peijing-olympic

Olympic 2008 - Football -* Teams*USA (USA)

2008-07-04T10:29:00.000-07:00

USA (USA)
The pastThe United States have qualified for the Men's Olympic Football tournament 13 times, including five straight finals from 1984 to 2000. Their best-ever finish came in 2000 in Sydney when, led by Landon Donovan and goalkeeper Brad Friedel, the Stars and Stripes only just missed out on Bronze after losing to Chile. Since the Olympic tournament became a primarily U-23 event in 1992, the Americans have participated in every competition save for the most recent one at Athens in 2004 when they lost in the semi-finals of CONCACAF qualifying to Mexico.
The presentCoached by former Poland international and Chicago Fire icon Peter Nowak, the young Americans were a well-organised outfit in the qualifying tournament for Beijing. They took some time getting rolling and required set-pieces for most of their goals, but the hosts managed to win their group with victories over Panama and Honduras. In the semi-final Freddy Adu led the way with two goals in a 3-0 win over Canada. They could have used his magic again in the final against Honduras, but with qualification already assured, the Benfica man and a number of his European-based team-mates headed back to their clubs early. In the end, the Hondurans prevailed 1-0 after extra-time. Even so, the young Americans showed off a raft of significantly talented players in the competition. Sacha Kljestan, Jozy Altidore, captain Maurice Edu and Marvell Wynne were chief among them.
The futureStrengthened by three senior players at the finals in the Far East, the Americans will be hoping to win their first piece of major global silverware, moving beyond the semi-final finish in Sydney. With a richly talented squad and a tactically astute manager in Nowak, Beijing 2008 might just be the time and place for the North Americans to shine. Midfielder Stuart Holden, who stood out among the US' best in qualifying summed up the team's hopes: "It feels amazing and it is kind of a relief. We've put in all this hard work over the last couple of months and now we're going to Beijing. It feels good to play that well in that important of a game (semi-final against Canada) and qualify for the Olympics, where we hope to keep up the form and give it our all."
Facts Former starsLandon Donovan (2000), Claudio Reyna (1996), Cobi Jones (1992), Tab Ramos (1988), Chico Borja (1984), Harry Keough (1956), John Souza (1952), Walter Bahr (1948)
Key players Chris Seitz (goalkeeper), Jonathan Spector (defence), Freddy Adu (midfield), Jozy Altidore (forward)
Qualifying statisticsDespite winning Group A, the USA never looked comfortable doing it. Both of their wins in the first round were by one-goal margins.
The numbers game 1 - The number of goals the USA scored from the run of play in their five games at the CONCACAF qualifiers.

Olympic 2008 - Football -* Teams* Serbia (SRB)

2008-07-04T10:28:00.000-07:00

Serbia (SRB)
The pastFollowing the secession of Montenegro in 2006, Beijing 2008 will be Serbia's first appearance at the Olympic Football Tournament as an independent state with a new name. The Serbs will be determined to avoid a repeat of the debacle at the 2004 Athens games, when as Serbia and Montenegro they lost all three Group C matches, scoring just three goals and conceding no fewer than 14. They have much fonder memories of the 1984 tournament in Los Angeles, where a Yugoslavia team featuring Dragan Stojkovic, Mitar Mrkela and a sizeable contingent of fellow Serbia-born stars won the bronze medal. The presentMany observers expect great things from the current Serb team, who have emerged as a real surprise package. In advance of the UEFA U-21 European Championship, hardly anyone backed them to claim one of the four European tickets to the 2008 Beijing games. Indeed, it took a minor miracle for the East Europeans even to reach the finals. The Serbs were all but out of contention after a 3-0 home defeat to Sweden in a qualifying play-off, but ran up a sensational 5-0 win in the away leg. They the hit the ground running at the finals, opening their campaign with a 1-0 win over five-times champions Italy. A victory by the same score over the Czech Republic in their second Group B fixture guaranteed a place at the Beijing games. A 2-0 success against Belgium in the semi-finals was followed by a disappointing 4-1 loss to hosts the Netherlands in the final, but the footballing world had long since marked the Serbs down as real contenders. The future"There's a terrific atmosphere among the players and a real sense of unity after what we've achieved. They're ready to face all the challenges which lie ahead. The players have earned themselves a lot of attention and a great deal of respect," then coach Miroslav Djukic said after his side sealed a place in Beijing. Slobodan Krcmarevic has subsequently taken over the task of bringing on an exceptionally promising generation. The Serbs are certainly not to be underestimated once the action starts in China. Facts Key playersAleksandar Kolarov (defence), Stefan Babovic (midfield), Zoran Tosic (forward) Qualifying statisticsSerbia scored four of their five goals at the UEFA U-21 European Championship in the Netherlands after the 62nd minute. Krcmarevic's men are patently not lacking in stamina or patience. The numbers game0 - the number of times Serbia have appeared at the Olympic Football Tournament as an independent association, which first came into being in 2006.

Olympic 2008 - Football -* Teams* New Zealand (NZL)

2008-07-04T10:26:00.000-07:00

New Zealand (NZL)
The past Bridesmaid to former Oceania confederation giants Australia for a long time, New Zealand's "Oly-Whites" have never qualified for the men's Olympic tournament before. In 1996 they only ceded the Oceania place to Australia on goal difference, while in 2004 they faced Australia in a two-leg playoff, and were somewhat unlucky to go down 3-1 on aggregate.
The present With Australia now competing in the Asian confederation, New Zealand had every reason to be confident ahead of the Olympic qualifying series, and their confidence was proved justified. The Oly-Whites strolled triumphantly through the Oceania qualifying tournament in Fiji, winning every match and scoring an impressive tally of 19 goals in five games. Coach Stu Jacobs' side were made to work hard in their opening match against hosts Fiji, but after sealing a 2-1 win in the second half, they never looked back.
The future The Oly-Whites feature a number of players with professional experience in the Australian A-League, including Wellington Phoenix defender Steven Old, his young clubmate Costa Barbarouses, and striker Jeremy Brockie, formerly of Sydney FC. Nevertheless, the side is still short of experience at the top level, and coach Jacobs is realistic about their chances in Beijing, with the draw only weeks away: "It's always exciting to find out who you're playing, although they're all high calibre sides," Jacobs said.
FactsKey playersSteven Old (defence), Jeremy Brockie (forward), Costa Barbarouses (forward).
Qualifying statisticsFive games played, five games won; 19 goals scored, three conceded.
The numbers game0 - the number of times the Oly-Whites have qualified for the FIFA Men's Olympic Football Tournament in the past.

Olympic 2008 - Football -* Teams* Nigeria (NGA)

2008-07-04T10:25:00.001-07:00

Nigeria (NGA)
The pastNigeria can always take pride on being the first African side to win the Olympic gold, a feat they achieved at Atlanta in 1996. It was a fantastic achievement, made possible by a golden generation of talented players including Jay-Jay Okocha, Wilson Oruma, Daniel Amokachi and Nwankwo Kanu. Having graduated from their section, they beat Mexico 2-0 in the quarter-finals before coming up against a Brazil featuring Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos, Bebeto and Rivaldo. The two rivals played out a thrilling encounter, which the Nigerians won 4-3 after extra-time to set up a final against Argentina. Hernan Crespo, Javier Zanetti, Juan Sebastian Veron and Roberto Ayala all starred for the South Americans, but Nigeria emerged victorious as Emmanuel Amunike's last-gasp effort earned them a 3-2 success.
The presentIn contrast to Cameroon and Côte d'Ivoire, who stamped their tickets a match early, Nigeria had to wait until their final encounter with South Africa to go through. They did it in style, though, triumphing 3-0 to leave fellow Group A heavyweights Ghana missing out on the main event. Now, as they prepare for Beijing, the spine of their U-23 team is made up of the U-20 side, also coached by Samson Siasia, that finished runners-up to Lionel Messi's Argentina at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Netherlands 2005.
The futureAs Africa's most populous nation, Nigeria possesses without doubt the continent's greatest reservoir of talent. Many players come into contention for a call-up, and the passage is smooth from the youth sides to the U-21s and then to the senior team. As a result, gifted players such as Promise Isaac and Ayodele Adeleye can be expected to feature at the highest level of the international game before very long.
Facts
Former starsRashidi Yekini, Samson Siasia (1988), Nwankwo Kanu, Denis Oliseh, Daniel Amokachi (1996), Godwin Okpara, Celestine Babayaro (2000).
Key playersVictor Anichebe, Obina Nsofor (forwards), Promise Isaac, Obi Mikel (midfield), Taye Taiwo (defence).
Qualifying statisticsThrown in at the deep end with Ghana and South Africa, the Super Eaglets finished the third round of qualifiers with a record of two wins, two draws, seven goals scored and three conceded.
The numbers game6 - The number of times Nigeria have appeared in the Men's Olympic Football Tournament.

Olympic 2008 - Football -* Teams*Netherlands (NED)

2008-07-04T10:23:00.000-07:00

Netherlands (NED)
The past For a nation with such a proud football history, the Netherlands have under-performed in Olympic qualifying in recent times. Despite gaining three bronze medals prior to the Second World War [1908, 1912, 1920], the Dutch have not participated in the men's tournament since 1952. They reached a play-off for the 1992 tournament but were denied a place in Barcelona by Australia in an inter-confederation play-off.
The present The Dutch derived full benefit from hosting the UEFA European U-21 Championship, which doubled as a qualifying tournament for the Men's Olympic Football Tournament; the four semi-finalists doubling as Europe's representatives in Beijing. Despite the absence of star striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, the Dutch took just two games to confirm their presence at the Olympic Games, successive 1-0 wins over Israel and Portugal booking them a place in the semi-finals. The Jong Oranje went on to become European U-21 Champions as well, defeating Serbia in the tournament final.
The future Jong Oranje coach Foppe de Haan will be able to call upon a number of players competing at the top level in Europe, including Liverpool winger Ryan Babel and Valencia's Hedwiges Maduro, a member of the Dutch squad at the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany™. De Haan has every reason to be confident following his team's success in the European U-21 Championship - the second continental triumph in a row for the Dutch. "There are a lot of young players coming into the team at the moment, so Dutch football has plenty of good times ahead," said the veteran coach.
Facts
Former StarsJan Vos (1912) and Ber Groosjohan (1920)
Key PlayersRyan Babel (midfield), Royston Drenthe (midfield), Hedwiges Maduro (midfield).
Qualifying StatisticsThree wins and two draws from five games; ten goals scored, five conceded.
The numbers game56 - the number of years since the Dutch have competed in the FIFA Men's Olympic Football Tournament.

Olympic 2008 - Football -* Teams* Korea Republic (KOR)

2008-07-04T10:21:00.001-07:00

Korea Republic (KOR)
The past Korea Republic's record at the Olympic competition is a fairly accurate reflection of the country's football development. In the first year when they became affiliated to FIFA (1948), they booked qualification for the games in London but their debut performance on the global stage ended in a 12-0 humiliation at the hands of a rampant Sweden. The gulf in class between the team and the world's best encouraged the Koreans to embark on a building process. Progress was initially shown in their third Olympic competition at Seoul 1988, where they managed two draws, including the opening goalless tie against eventual gold-medalists the USSR. From there they went on qualify for each of the past four Olympic Games and their development culminated at Athens 2004, when they progressed beyond the group stage for the first time.
The presentThey dominated last year's Asian qualifying tournament, progressing to their eighth and sixth straight Olympic Games. After going through to last-twelve under former Dutch coach Pim Verbeek, they opened the qualifying final stage with a 2-1 win over Uzbekistan-a team that they had also defeated in the previous two-leg meetings in the preliminary rounds. After a pair of 1-0 wins over Bahrain and Syria, their winning form inexplicably deserted them in the next two matches against Syria and Uzbekistan as they could manage no better than two 0-0 results. Although they failed to end the goal drought in the goalless draw in their last match against Bahrain, the point was enough to see them through.
The future New coach Park Sung-Wha didn't hide his ambitions of moulding his team into an attack-minded outfits. "The former coach (Pim Verbeek) relied on taking advantage of playing on the flanks, which lacks diversity so I will stick to a 4-4-2 or a 4-2-3-1 formation to solidify the midfield for attacks up the middle," Park said in his first press conference as Korea Republic U-23 coach in August 2007.
Facts Former stars Huwang Sun-Hong, (1996), Park Ji-Sung (2000), Yoo Sang-Chul (2004) Key players Park Chu-Young (midfield), Baek Ji-Hong (midfield), Kim Jin-Kyu (defence) Qualifying statistics Korea Republic became Asia's most efficient team as they scored only four goals to win three of their six games in the qualifying final round. The numbers game 3 - the number of goalless draws they earned in the qualifying final round.

Olympic 2008 - Football -* Teams* Japan (JPN)

2008-07-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

Japan (JPN)
The past Japan remains arguably Asia's most successful team on the Olympic men's football stage. In their seven appearances at the global showpiece, they have progressed past the group stages four times. Their most significant achievement came in 1968 in Mexico City when Kunishige Kamanoto scored twice in the opening half to seal a 2-0 third-place victory over the hosts for a bronze medal. While this remains the best result any Asian team has achieved at Olympic level, it took the East Asians nearly three decades to book their first Olympic appearance since then when they progressed to Atlanta 1996. Their dominance in Asia has been further underlined by qualifying for both Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004.
The presentJapan made relatively light work of the preliminary stage, storming into the final qualifying round as the only team to have kept an unblemished record by winning all six matches. They kept up their winning record with a 1-0 opener over Vietnam but their all-conquering form was brought to an end when then were held to a goalless draw by Saudi Arabia. A 1-0 win against Qatar was followed by an unexpected 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Gulf side in the second leg, a result which left Japan on the brink of elimination. But Sorimachi's charges bounced back by thrashing Vietnam 4-0 in the penultimate match. In the closing game, Japan kept their cool to keep the surging Saudi Arabia at bay and earn the point they needed to qualify for their eighth Olympic Games.
The future If their record is anything to go by, it seems that Japan, under coach Yasuharu Sorimachi, are set to mount a serious challenge in Beijing. He said, "I feel the expectations of the people and the weight of my responsibility. The youngsters are very important to the future of Japanese football. I'd like to take these good ingredients and turn them into a fine dish."
Facts Former stars Kunishige Kamanoto (1968), Hidetoshi Nakata(2000), Shinji Ono (2004) Key players Hirayama Sota (forward), Takuya Honda (midfield), Atsuto Uchida (defence)
Qualifying statistics Japan's solid defence played a large part in their qualifying campaign. They scored seven goals while conceding only two in six games in the qualifying final round, which produced three wins, two draws and one defeat.
The numbers game 8 - the number of times Japan have qualified for men's Olympic football competition so far.

Olympic 2008 - Football -* Teams* Italy (ITA)

2008-07-04T10:17:00.001-07:00

Italy (ITA)
The pastItaly has had to wait a long time for a repeat of their achievements at the 1936 Summer Games, but Casiraghi's troops will hardly be short of more recent role models when they bid to win gold in Beijing. The senior side boosted Italian confidence across the board when they came out on top at Germany 2006, and the Olympic team can also lay claim to being the most decorated in Europe at their age-group, courtesy of five continental U-21 titles (1992, 1994, 1996, 2000 and 2004).That makes the Azzurrini one of the favourites to go all the way, even if they required a penalty shoot-out to ultimately qualify for the main event. In fact, the Italians finished just third in their 2007 UEFA European U-21 Championship pool, having lost 1-0 to Serbia, drawn with England 2-2 and beaten the Czech Republic 3-1. They then went on to beat Portugal on penalties in the play-off.
The presentA genuine waiting room for the senior line-up, the U-23 team is composed almost entirely of Serie A representatives, which unsurprisingly gives them solid experience of top-level football. The star of the side is nonetheless Giuseppe Rossi, who plies his trade in Spain with Villarreal and forms one third of Italy's formidable attacking trio alongside Sebastian Giovinco and Robert Acquafresca. Meanwhile, captain and Torino prospect Marco Motta looks to be the natural successor to a long line of talented Italian defenders.All that remains to be seen now is whether Casiraghi decides to bolster his squad with three older players, as the rules permit.
The futureHaving taken over from Claudio Gentile in 2006, Casiraghi will go into the tournament with a tight-knit group of players whose collective qualities mark them out far more than their individual gifts. Building an understanding takes time, of course, and results have not always been favourable in recent years, but booking their ticket to the Olympic Games in such dramatic fashion could well prove a turning point. In addition, they clearly possess some of the senior team's mental toughness after winning their spot-kick showdown with Portugal. "Italy is going to open a school explaining how to win penalty shoot-outs," joked the President of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI).
FactsFormer starsFranco Baresi (1984), Demetrio Albertini (1992), Andrea Pirlo (2000), Alberto Gilardino (2004)
Key players Giuseppe Rossi (forward), Marco Motta (defence), Claudio Marchisio (midfield)
Qualifying statisticsPlaced third in a strong group after one win, one draw and one defeat, Italy finally won through on penalties in a play-off contest with Portugal (0-0; 4-3 on penalties).
The numbers game 19 - the number of goals scored by Alberto Gilardino, the top scorer in the history of the team, with a record three superior to that of his AC Milan colleague Andrea Pirlo, who fired 16.

Olympic 2008 - Football -* Teams* Honduras (HON)

2008-07-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

Honduras (HON)
The pastHonduras have previously qualified for only one Men's Olympic Football Tournament, in Sydney in 2000. Down Under, the Catrachos finished third in their group and went out at the first hurdle despite earning a credible 3-3 draw against Nigeria and a win over the host Australians. Led by current Inter Milan star David Suazo and with an all-out attacking style, the Hondurans earned a great deal of respect at those finals. Despite a comparative lack of experience at the Olympics, the Hondurans are considered a dangerous opponent in CONCACAF at senior level, having famously finished third at the Copa America (South American Cup of Nations) in 2001 and second at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 1991. They also reached a FIFA World Cup finals in Spain in 1982.
The presentThe Honduran U-23 side that qualified for Beijing represents one of the most talented generations in the country's footballing history. Led by the towering figure of Club Olimpia's Hendry Thomas in the centre of defence, the Hondurans shook off a group stage loss to the Americans and went on to beat Guatemala on penalties to book passage to Beijing. Then, as if they had something more to prove, the Catrachos swooped to down fellow qualifiers and hosts the USA in the final and earn the crown of CONCACAF champions. The team is coached by former Colombia international defender Alexis Mendoza, and led by Thomas at the back and a slew of elegant distributors and hard-nose destroyers up through midfield.
The futureWith a largely defensive posture, the Hondurans will be hoping to ride their organisation and shape deep into the finals in Beijing. Coach Mendoza summed up the spirit in the camp best after qualifying for the finals: "It is a magnificent thing to qualify for the Olympics and I could not be more proud of my players. They gave everything they had and they earned their place with their hearts and their souls. Now, though, we will need to focus on the next job of showing what we can do against the best in the world."
Facts
Former stars David Suazo (2000), Jairo Martinez (2000), Francisco Pavon (2000), Elvis Turcios (2000)
Key players Hendry Thomas (defence), Jefferson Bernardez (midfield), Georgie Welcome (forward)
Qualifying statisticsHonduras built their qualifying run on solid defending. A 2-0 win over a depleted Cuba was the only one of their five games in which they scored more than one goal. They needed penalties in the semi-final and extra-time in the final.
The numbers game2 - The 2008 U-23 CONCACAF Championship crown was the second in Honduras' history, the first coming in 2000 en route to Sydney.

Olympic 2008 - Football -* Teams*Cameroon (CMR)

2008-07-04T10:11:00.000-07:00

Cameroon (CMR)
The past At Sydney 2000, Cameroon wrote their name large in the history of African footballing when they joined the select band of teams to have won the Men's Olympic Football Tournament. The feat surpassed even that of Roger Milla and Co, who famously earned Cameroon a quarter-final berth at the 1990 FIFA World Cup Italy™. The Indomitable Lion Cubs had some fine players back in 2000, with stalwarts like Patrick Mboma lining up alongside promising youngsters such as Samuel Eto'o and Geremi Njitap. The Olympic title was no stroll in the park, however, with Cameroon having to beat Ronaldinho's Brazil in the quarters (2-1 aet), Ivan Zamorano's Chile in the semis (2-1) and then Xavi's Spain in the final (2-2, pso 5-3).
The present This will be Cameroon's third appearance at the event (after 1984 and 2000), and they will be looking to write their name in the record books once again with at least a place in the final, just as the senior team managed at CAN 2008. The team's main strength is in attack, and despite the fact that a number of new faces have been in and out of the squad, the mental and organisational qualities remain the same.
The futureThe Lion Cubs are the last stepping stone on the way to the senior Indomitable Lions - Stephane Mbia, Alexandre Song and Landry Nguemo have all made it into the first team recently, while Christian Bekamenga, Alain Olle Olle Jr. and Aurelien Chedjou will be hoping to put in some good performances at the Olympics to make the step up.
Facts
Former starsJoseph Antoine Bell, Roger Milla, Emmanuel Kunde, Theophile Abega (1984), Patrick Mboma, Samuel Eto'o, Geremi Njitap (2000)
Key playersStéphane Mbia, Landry Nguemo (midfield), Amougou Bikey (defence), Alexandre Song (midfield)
Qualifying statisticsCameroon impressed greatly in the qualifiers, losing just two games while scoring 14 and conceding only five.
The numbers game6-1 - the heaviest defeat in the African qualifiers, inflicted by Cameroon on Guinea.

Olympic 2008 - Football -* Teams*Côte d'Ivoire (CIV)

2008-07-04T10:09:00.000-07:00

Côte d'Ivoire (CIV)
The past Unlike established African heavyweights like Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, Morocco and Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire have never represented the continent at a Men's Olympic Football Tournament. The Elephants also had to bide their time before taking their FIFA World Cup bow at Germany 2006. But having made it to Beijing, can the new kids on the block kick on and bring joy to a country whose highest placing in international competition to date remains the third spot they obtained at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Canada 1987?
The present Côte d'Ivoire's long wait to reach the one international tournament they have yet to appear in finally came to an end on 18 December 2007, when they defeated Zambia 4-1 at the Stade Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan. Gerard Gili's U-23 charges faced a far from easy task when they were drawn in the same group as the Zambians, Mali and Senegal. Nevertheless, the young Elephants had the measure of their opponents to emerge comfortable winners in Group B. The mainstay of the team is Gervais Yao Kouassi, aka Gervinho. So impressive has the Le Mans playmaker been in setting the tempo of the U-23 side that he earned a place in the squad for the 2008 CAF Africa Cup of Nations. The rising star could well be joined in Beijing by household names such as Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba.
The future With the likes of Kone Kouamatien and Antoine Ngossan in their ranks, the Africans are not short of star quality. And waiting in the wings are a host of talented youngsters poised to emerge from the prolific Academie Mimosas and follow in the footsteps of former graduates Kolo Toure (Arsenal), Baky Kone (Nice) and Aruna Dindane (Lens).
Facts
Former starsThis is Côte d'Ivoire's first appearance at the Olympic Games.
Key playersSalomon Kalou (forward) and Gervais Yao Kouassi (forward)
Qualifying statisticsGervinho and Co bounced back in fine style after losing 2-0 to Zambia in the opening game in the final qualifying group, winning all their remaining games and scoring 13 goals in the process.
The numbers game5: The number of wins the Ivorians strung together in qualifying for Beijing 2008, making them the most impressive of Africa's three qualifiers.

Olympic 2008 - Football -* Teams*China PR (CHN)

2008-07-04T10:07:00.001-07:00

China PR (CHN)
The pastThe Olympic Games have so far left China's football with nothing but poignant memories. They generally struggle in Asia's Olympic qualifying, booking a place in the global showpiece only once (Seoul 1988), where they packed for home after conceding five unanswered goals in the group stage. The presentChina's poor record at international level, however, did little to dent the hosts' confidence of achieving greatness at Beijing 2008. As the hosts they will receive unprecedented support and under Serbian coach Ratomir Dujkovic are young and talented, with a solid defense, a creative midfield and a loaded front line. The core of Dujkovic's squad comes from the team that reached the second round at the FIFA U-20 World Cup Netherlands 2005. The futureAlthough Beijing 2008 only marks their second appearance in the Olympic football tournament, they have set their sight high with a goal of reaching the last four. However, the task didn't daunt coach Ratomir Dujkovic, who told FIFA.com after he took over the team in 2006. "Nothing is impossible in football. The team have shown that they are capable of playing against strong opposition and, as long as we work hard and well together, we can be successful."
Facts Former stars Gao Hongbo (1988) Key playersZhu Ting (forward), Dong Fangzhuo (forward), Zheng Zhi (midfield), Feng Xiaoting (defence) Qualifying statisticsChina automatically qualified as hosts. The numbers game0 - the number of goals the team scored at their debut at Seoul 1988 and the only appearance at a FIFA World Cup™ finals in Korea/Japan in 2002.

Olympic 2008 - Football -* Teams* Brazil (BRA)

2008-07-04T10:01:00.000-07:00

Brazil (BRA)
The past The Olympic gold medal remains the only major honour to have eluded five-time world champions Brazil, this despite having contested consecutive finals in 1984 and 1988. Their last appearance at a Men's Olympic Football Tournament was at Sydney 2000 when, under the guidance of Vanderlei Luxemburgo and the leadership of Ronaldinho, they crashed out in the quarter-finals to eventual champions Cameroon. After missing out on Athens 2004, when they had to watch neighbours and rivals Argentina take the top prize, you can be sure the Seleção will be hungrier than ever for that elusive gold in Beijing.
The present Unlike most other sides, the Olympic squad is managed by the senior team coach, in this case Carlos Dunga, himself a veteran of the 1984 edition in Los Angeles. True to form, the coach has left no stone unturned in putting assembling his squad. The 1994 FIFA World Cup™ winner used recent friendlies to assess the likes of Alexandre Pato, a member of the U-20 side that secured their berth in Beijing with victory at last year's South American U-20 Championship. With the likes of Lucas and Marcelo set to join up with the AC Milan starlet, and over-23 reinforcements such as Kaka and Robinho to choose from, Brazil will arrive at the big event in China as strong gold-medal favourites.
The future "Many people think the Olympics are not as important to us as the World Cup, as we have five of those already. But we're Brazil, and every time we take to the pitch, we do so to win. We want to claim our country's first gold medal [in football]," said Dunga giving some indication of his plans when the team arrives in China.
Facts Former starsDunga (1984), Claudio Taffarel (1988), Careca (1988), Romario (1988), Dida (1996), Bebeto (1988 and 1996), Rivaldo (1996), Ronaldinho (2000)
Key players Lucas (midfield) and Alexandre Pato (forward)
Qualifying statisticsBrazil secured their berth in Beijing by virtue of winning the South American U-20 Championship in 2007 in Paraguay. They did so in some style too, staying unbeaten throughout with six wins and three draws, scoring 20 goals and conceding just nine.
The numbers game3: The number of times Brazil have had podium finishes at the Men's Olympic Football Tournament: they took silver at Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988, while in Atlanta in 1996 they had to make do with bronze.

Olympic 2008 - Football -* Teams* Belgium(BEL)

2008-07-04T09:59:00.000-07:00

Belgium (BEL)
The pastBelgium peaked early as far as the Men's Olympic Football Tournament is concerned. Winners of the title on home soil in 1920, the Red Devils last appeared at the competition in 1928 - Jean-Francois De Sart's young guns ending this 80-year drought by qualifying for Beijing 2008. Despite being deprived of several key players, the Belgian side reached the semi-finals of the continental qualifying competition, where they were finally dispatched by Serbia. To get there, the Diablotins had emerged from a very tough group comprising Portugal, the Netherlands and Israel, an achievement that helped inject a much-needed dose of optimism into Belgian football. Once on Dutch soil, the team's spirit and defensive solidity shone through in the 0-0 draw with Portugal and a 1-0 success over Israel. These results were followed by a thrilling 2-2 draw against their neighbours and competition hosts, Kevin Mirallas and Sebastien Pocognoli scoring the goals to send Belgium through to the final four and a place in China. The presentAhead of the friendly encounter with Morocco on 26 March, Belgium senior coach Rene Vandereycken included eleven players also eligible for the Olympic team, thereby confirming his faith in the work being carried out by De Sart at youth level. And it would appear to be a wise decision, with the quality of the 85-89 generation bordering on the unprecedented in Belgian football. Vincent Kompany (Hamburg), Steven Defour and Marouane Fellaini (Standard Liege), Jan Verthongen and Thomas Vermaelen (Ajax), Haris Faroun (Genk), Guillaume Gillet (Anderlecht), Kevin Mirallas (Lille) and Moussa Dembele (AZ Alkmaar) are all first-teamers at their clubs. In addition to these heroes from the summer of 2007, De Sart has begun the qualifying campaign for the next European U-21 Championship by blending in new finds such as Reginal Goreux, Landry Mulemo (Standard Liege), Timothy Derijck, Massimo Moia and Jeanvion Yulu-Matondo. The future Jean-Francois De Sart has relied heavily on the experience of the EURO 2007 semi-finalists to build an ambitious team with talent in all areas. The sole cause for concern centres on the physical condition of his established players after a gruelling league season with their clubs. And the defeat suffered by the new-look Red Devils at the hands of Morocco in March 2008 raises doubts about the team's ability to withstand the pressures of a major event.
Facts
Former stars Armand Swartenbroeks, Joseph Musch, Oscar Verbeeck (1920, 1924)
Key players Steven Defour (midfield), Vincent Kompany (defence), Moussa Dembele (forward), Marouane Fellaini (midfield), Guillaume Gillet (midfield), Maarten Martens (midfield), Jan Vertonghen (defence)
Qualifying statistics In what was their first European Championship finals' involvement since 2002, Belgium went unbeaten in their three group matches, conceding just two goals in the process. In the semi-finals, the Belgians were beaten 2-0 by Serbia.
The numbers game 11 - the number of players born between 1985 and 1989 called up by Rene Vandereycken for the senior international friendly against Morocco in March 2008, although Steven Defour later withdrew due to injury.

Olympic 2008 - Football -* Teams* Australia(AUS)

2008-07-04T09:56:00.000-07:00

Australia (AUS)
The past Australia's "Olyroos" are regular entrants in the men's tournament, having qualified for every edition of the event since 1988. Although yet to receive a medal, they came very close in Barcelona in 1992, reaching the semi-finals only to be thrashed by eventual silver medallists Poland. They also emerged from their first-round groups in 1988 and 2004, but found the first knockout round too much for them on both occasions. Ironically, their poorest ever performance came on home turf; the 2000 Olympic team lost all three of their games.
The present Long accustomed to the less demanding Oceania confederation, Australian teams have found the AFC a tougher testing ground, and the men's Olympic team is no exception. Australia's Dutch Technical Director, Rob Baan, steered the side through the opening group of the tournament, where they sealed qualification for the second stage with an emphatic 4-0 away win in Jordan. The baton was then passed to former Socceroos coach Graham Arnold, who achieved qualification for Beijing on the final matchday of the second phase. With Australia needing only a draw to finish ahead of Iraq, the Olyroos looked in trouble when their hosts Korea DPR took an early lead. With 19 minutes to go, central defender and captain Mark Milligan headed Australia level, and the Olyroos had made it.
The future Milligan has already made his mark at full international level, putting in two excellent performances for the Socceroos at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. Other players to watch out for are U.S-born Bruce Djité, a swift, powerful striker who caused opposition defences plenty of grief during the qualifiers, and subtle playmaker Nathan Burns, Djité's teammate at Adelaide United. Graham Arnold, however, wants to bolster his squad with the permitted over-age players as well. "You go to the Olympics to succeed, and you can strengthen the side by using these (senior) players," he said.
Facts
Former stars Graham Arnold (1988), Frank Farina (1988), Mark Viduka (2000), Tim Cahill (2004).
Key players Mark Milligan (defence), Nathan Burns (midfield), Bruce Djité (forward).
Qualifying statistics Six games won, five drawn and one lost in twelve games; 18 goals scored, five conceded.
The numbers game6 - the number of consecutive Men's Olympic Football Tournaments that the Olyroos have now qualified for.

Olympic 2008 - Football -* Teams* Argentina (ARG)

2008-07-04T09:52:00.000-07:00

Argentina (ARG)
The pastThe Olympic Football Tournament Athens 2004 will forever be a part of Argentinian sporting history, with Marcelo Bielsa's Albiceleste winning the country's first-ever gold medal. Boasting players of the calibre of Roberto Ayala, Javier Mascherano, Andres D'Alessandro and star performer Carlos Tevez, the tournament's top scorer, this Argentina squad went one further than the class of 1996, silver medal winners at the Atlanta games. The facts and figures of Tevez and Co's success also make inspiring reading: six wins from six games, 17 goals scored and none conceded.
The presentThe achievements of Athens 2004 may be a tough act to follow, but current coach Sergio Batista can call upon a group of players endowed with similarly dizzying levels of individual quality. Boasting U-23 stars firmly established at the biggest clubs in the world's most competitive leagues, Batista has had the chance to unleash his young charges just once thus far, in a 5-0 friendly win over Guatemala. Despite the quality at Argentina's disposal, a slew of major absentees at the South American U-20 Championship 2007 made qualifying for Beijing 2008 no easy task. In the event it took a last-gasp goal against Uruguay from Lautaro Acosta, subsequently part of the squad that won the FIFA U-20 World Cup Canada 2007, to send the Albiceleste through. The future "Yes, we can count on an impressive squad of players, but we can't just rely on that. The most important thing will be to finish assembling a squad that's capable of putting our theoretical advantage into practice and repeat the medal won in Athens," says coach Batista, who has already confirmed Boca Juniors virtuoso Juan Roman Riquelme as captain of a team that could also include Sergio Aguero, Lionel Messi and Fernando Gago, amongst others.
Facts Former stars Roberto Cherro (1928), Roberto Ayala (1996 and 2004), Diego Simeone (1996), Hernan Crespo (1996), Carlos Tevez (2004)
Key Players Federico Fazio defence), Ever Banega (midfield), Maximiliano Moralez (midfield), Lautaro Acosta (forward) Qualifying statisticsArgentina's Sudamericano U-20 performance was solid if unspectacular, the Albicelestes winning three games, drawing five and losing just one. They scored 15 and conceded eight.
The numbers game3 - The number of times Argentina have reached the Final of the Olympic Football Tournament in six attempts. After losing to Uruguay at Amsterdam 1928 and Nigeria at Atlanta 1996, a 1-0 win over Paraguay made it third time lucky at Athens 2004.

Olympic 2008 - Football -* Qualifiers*

2008-07-04T09:49:00.000-07:00

Qualifiers

AFC

The Asian qualifying road consisted of two preliminary stages and one final round. In the end, Australia, Korea Republic and Japan finished top of their respective groups to reach the finals in Beijing. The trio joins China PR, who qualify automatically as hosts.

Australia (AUS)
Japan (JPN)
Korea Republic (KOR)

Men's Olympic Football Tournament 2008 Prel. Comp. AFC
Tuesday 20 November 2007
Trio smile as Asian race ends
Friday 23 November 2007

CAF

The third and final round of qualifying groups ran from June 2007 to March 2008. Group winners Nigeria (Group A), Cote d'Ivoire (Group B) and Cameroon (Group C) all reached Beijing.

Cameroon (CMR)
Côte d'Ivoire (CIV)
Nigeria (NGA)

Men's Olympic Football Tournament 2008 Prel. Comp. CAF
Tuesday 20 November 2007
Africa going for gold again
Thursday 3 April 2008

UEFA

The UEFA U-21 Championship 2007, played between 10 and 23 June 2007, served as the qualifying competition. Netherlands, the tournament hosts and holders, retained the trophy to lead a quartet that also included beaten finalists Serbia and Belgium. With the other semi-finalists, England, ineligible to compete in the Olympics, a play-off between Italy and Portugal on 21 June provided the Azzurrini with the fourth and final qualiying slot.

Belgium (BEL)
Italy (ITA)
Netherlands (NED)
Serbia (SRB)

Men's Olympic Football Tournament 2008 Prel. Comp. UEFA
Tuesday 18 September 2007
De Haan's Dutch make history
Sunday 24 June 2007

CONCACAF

By reaching the final of the eight-team CONCACAF qualifying tournament in the USA in March, the host Americans and Honduras booked passage to Beijing 2008.

Honduras (HON)
USA (USA)

Men's Olympic Football Tournament 2008 Prel. Comp. CONCACAF
Tuesday 18 September 2007
A Welcome crown for Honduras
Monday 24 March 2008

OFC

The final qualifying tournament will take place in Fiji in March 2008 by way of a six-team round robin including New Zealand, Fiji, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. The winner will qualify as the lone Oceania representative for Beijing 2008.

New Zealand (NZL)

Kiwis celebrate Olympic double
Sunday 9 March 2008

CONMEBOL

Brazil and Argentina, winners and runners-up respectively at the South American U-20 Championship in Paraguay in January 2007, became the first two teams to book their places at the Men's Olympic Football Tournament at Beijing 2008.

Argentina (ARG)
Brazil (BRA)

Argentina and Brazil first on list for China 2008
Tuesday 30 January 2007

Host Country

China PR, as the host country, qualify automatically.

China PR (CHN)

Olympic 2008 - Football -* host country*

2008-07-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

Host country
China

China is the perfect venue for the Olympic Football Tournament, considering the country's historic devotion to football.

It was recently argued that a form of football, or "cuju", as it was named originated in the Shandong Province of Linzi during the West Han Dynasty. A primitive version of football existed in China centuries before it was modified and given rules by English scholars to become association football, as it is known today, in the mid-18th century.

But the game's inventors and pioneers found themselves pupils to the modern game when it was introduced back to their territory around 1900. The national football association was not founded until 1924 and seven years later the CFA became affiliated to FIFA.

China has always been fully aware of how much it has lagged behind from the front-runners. But the game's birth nation wasted no time in recalling those golden early days or bemoaning the application of a new set of rules. Yet they have consistently made huge efforts to develop the game on home soil and were able to gain back some of the ground lost when the country was transformed under an open policy in 1978.

The first major breakthrough came when China hosted the inaugural FIFA U-17 World Championship in 1985 and the locals made the most of the occasion by reaching the last eight in the competition. But that achievement was overshadowed by the startling rise of the women's team, who marked their place among the world's elite two decades ago.

The team defeated Japan in the 1986 AFC Women's Championship final, then cemented their status as a dominant power by successfully defending the title for a record six times in succession. The team, affectionately named the Steel Roses, won the silver medal in the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games final, losing to the United States. The same rivals cruelly denied them again three years later in the final of the FIFA Women's World Cup USA 2003 when a Brandy Chastain spot kick handed the hosts victory in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.

Into the new millennium, and China's progress continued. The women, apart from a disappointing campaign in USA 2003 and a shock 8-0 defeat to Germany in the 2004 Athens Olympics, continued to progress and finished runners-up in the 2004 FIFA U-19 Women Championship in Thailand. Meanwhile reaching the FIFA World Cup™ finals in 2002 Korea/Japan for the first time was a landmark moment for the men's senior side.

Country Facts
The People's Republic of China has a population of over 1.3 billion - the most populated nation in the world.

Capital city Beijing is the country's cultural, political and educational centre.

One of the world's four oldest civilized nations alongside Greece, Egypt and India, China's first recognized dynasty dates back to 2,200 years B.C.

The nation has 56 ethnic groups with Han the largest, forming the majority of the country's population.

Mandarin, or Pu Tong Hua, the official dialect of Chinese language, is the most common spoken language.

A simplified form of Chinese is used in mainland China while traditional Chinese is still used by people in Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Macau and by a number of nationals overseas.

Traditionally Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism are the three principal religions in the country with Muslim and Christianity also prevalent.

Location

China is located in the east part of Asia, stretching 5,000 kilometers from east at Heilongjiang River to the west at Pamir Mountains in Central Asia and 4,000 kilometers from north at Heilongjiang Province to south at Hainan Island, then another 1.450 kilometers' south by sea to Zengmu Shoal.

It shares borders with Mongolia and Russia in the north, with Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan in the west, with India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar in the south and Korea DPR in the east.

Geography
In geographic terms, China is the world's third largest country with a surface of 9,596,960 km2. In Tibet, the Qingzang plateau, is situated 4,000 meters above sea level and is thus named, "the roof to the world". The country's two longest rivers, the Changjiang (also known as the Yangtze river) and the Huang He, run through the centre of the topography, before reaching the sea in the east.

While most of China enjoys a moderate temperature throughout the year, complex climatic patterns can range from cold-temperate in the north to tropical in the south. Precipitation varies regionally; temperatures range from minus 30°C in north in January to 28°C in south in July. Summer months are characterized by wet monsoons while dry monsoons occur during the winter.

Host Cities
Beijing, Qinhuangdao, Shenyang, Tianjin and Shanghai.

Olympic Torch says goodbye to Zunyi

2008-06-14T11:10:00.000-07:00

Torchbearer Wang Daojin (C), a 93-year-old Red Army soldier receives the torch from Mu Degui (R), mayor of Zunyi City at the launching ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay in Zunyi, southwest China's Guizhou Province on June 14, 2008. (Photo credit: Xinhua)
(BEIJING, June 14) -- Torchbearer Yuan Renguo arrived at the Renchuan Stadium at 9:50 a.m. on June 14, bringing to an end the Zunyi leg of the Olympic Torch Relay in southwest China's Guizhou Province. The next stop for the torch is Chongqing.
The torch set off on its 6.3-km journey this morning from the site of the Zunyi Conference, a meeting of the Communist Party of China that took place January, 1935, during the Long March.
Mao Zedong took command of the military and became the leader of the Communist Party after the conference, which has long been branded as a turning point in the history of the party.
The Zunyi leg of the Torch Relay, which involved 208 torchbearers, passed through Ziyin Road, Shilong Road, Fenghuang South Road, Fenghuangshan Cultural Center, a monument to the Red Army, Fenghuang North Road, Shanghai Road, Zunyi Normal College, Tianjin Road and Nanjing Road.
Wang Daojin, a Red Army soldier who is now 93 years-old, ran as the first torchbearer. Gui Yang, a firefighter who found three survivors in Sichuan after the May 12 earthquake, and Yang Changfeng, a farmer known for his feat of running across China, were also torchbearers.